Asheville, NC - Marino Campana belted a go-ahead homer in the top of the eighth inning on Wednesday, and the Greenville Drive defeated the Asheville Tourists 4-3 to snap a six-game losing streak.
Asheville, NC - Marino Campana belted a go-ahead homer in the top of the eighth inning on Wednesday, and the Greenville Drive defeated the Asheville Tourists 4-3 to snap a six-game losing streak.
With the score tied at 3-3, Campana belted the 2-2 pitch from Derrik Watson (0-1) to left-center for his team-leading seventh homer of the year.
The Tourists (17-26) threatened by putting runners on base in the eighth and ninth innings, but the Drive (11-33) held on to the lead.
The Drive jumped out to a 3-0 lead through the first six innings behind an excellent start from Kutter Crawford and some timely hits. Despite receiving yet another no-decision, Crawford continued his dominance on the mound, as he struck out nine Asheville hitters over six scoreless innings.
Campana's big day included an RBI double in the first, and he finished 3-5 with two RBI. Ricardo Cubillan added an RBI single in the second, and an Asheville error in the fifth plated another run.
Frankie Rios added three hits of his own from atop the Drive lineup on Wednesday, while Kervin Suarez went 2-4.
The Tourists tied the game up with three runs in the bottom of the seventh after a solo homer by Ramon Marcelino and a two-run homer by Matt McLaughlin.
Taylor Ahearn (1-0) was credited with the win in relief. Lukas Young followed by preserving the 4-3 lead in the ninth to earn his fourth save.
The series finale in Asheville will begin at 7:05 on Thursday night. The Drive will send left-hander Jhonathan Diaz (1-3, 4.30) to the mound as they look to split the four-game set, and left-hander Nick Kennedy (0-6, 7.46) will take the hill for the Tourists.
~Greenville Drive~
